The inexorable creep of consumer smartphones and tablets into the enterprise could be opening up a security hole in the corporate firewall, according to security company McAfee.

McAfee said the rise of so many new mobile platforms on smartphones and tablets, coupled with a lax attitude to mobile device security from consumers and even businesses, could make handheld devices a target for botnet infections.

Writing in its Q4 2010 report, the security company said cybercriminals currently have a "window of opportunity" to exploit various mobile platforms, with Nokia's Symbian OS the most targeted platform in 2009 to 2010 — when it also had the biggest OS market share — followed by Java 2 Mobile Edition and Symbian S60 3rd Edition. "Enterprises must now support more devices than ever before, in effect extending their corporate firewalls and services to places they may not be prepared for," the report said.